Today’s passage: 1 Corinthians 9:1-18
Helpful thoughts:
- When preachers are treated like celebrities instead of brothers in Christ, they will be picked apart in criticism instead of interacted with for mutual edification. Such was the case with the way some in the Corinthian church spoke of the Apostle Paul.
- “Those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” Paul proclaims the right of the pastor to make a living through his work in the church. However, because he knew it would be a stumbling block to this often materialistically minded church, he willingly chose not to receive any money at all.
- Paul’s willingness to lay down his right (His right to be paid by the church) was/is to be an example to the church. There are more important things than having my rights. If laying aside my right or putting aside my personal preference results in the God-glorifying spread of the gospel, I can be glad “not to make full use of my right.”
Questions to consider:
- To whom will pastors ultimately answer? Why does a pastor serve his flock best when he understands that he serves, first and foremost, to be pleasing to God?
- What is the mission (The Great Commission) of the church? What personal rights or preferences (Or maybe even comforts) have you put aside to actively participate in the mission of the church?
- What gets lost in our minds and hearts when we start to think that church (Or church services and ministries) exist to be pleasing to us? What has to happen for a church to become a “Christian club” instead of an outpost in the advance of our gospel mission?